Today’s daily reflection from the aa.org website reminded me that I’m never cured of alcoholism; what I have is a daily reprieve based on doing the work, practicing the principles of my program in all my affairs—that means in stroke recovery too. It tells me that sobriety is not a destination but a daily walk—one that demands maintenance, much like tending to a garden, picking weeds, resetting the bricks that fall over when the daggon neighborhood kids act like they are balancing beams. 🤪
The hopeful thinking that quitting drinking is an instant fix to all our problems is just that—an inability to surrender completely and have things happen in God’s time, not mine. When the fog of alcohol finally lifted from my life (which in itself took at least a year), it didn't reveal a perfect landscape. In fact, I saw the reality of my life's disarray and destruction: the family dynamics I had ignored, the professional bridges I had burned, the financial trouble, and the severe physical damage I found myself with.
Freedom, happiness, serenity, peace—were milestones in my path of sobriety. And that's the beauty of this thing I’m doing. Every day,
every step is progress. And with each day that passes, I grow stronger, more connected, and more present. It's not about a frenzied rush to fix everything; it's about a patient, steadfast march towards my future self—recognizing that I have enough when the painstaking feels particularly painstaking.
Visit recoverydailypodcast.com for more information about Doing the Work in Recovery.
